Coin counting machine



Sept. 20, 1932. Q SCHWARTZ '1,877,989

G01N couNTING MACHINE Filed APT-"L1 9. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 20,1932. C;- SCHWARTZ 1,877,989

COIN COUNTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Shed 2 if .50 a f 5-wV L? ff@ f D 0,/ es o g 120': ,Z7

` l i A @jdr/Jag@ MiN/@ Sept. 20, 1932. Q SCHWARTZ "1,877,989

COIN COUNTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 192s 3 sheets-sheet 5 Z5 f Z8 /5 Ma5M/1@ fo 4 Y /U Z7 Z7 r L?! I '/1 I f f 8 7 l 1727' 5 n f l/g 4 5MM@ ar/c/M l Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFr-'lcE CARLSCHWARTZ, OF ELKHAIRT LAKE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB T BRANDT AUTOMATICCASHIER COMPANY, OF WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN comcoUN'rING MACHINE Application led April 9, 1926. Serial No. 100,859.

This invention relates to coin counting machines. n Coin countingmachines have been heretofore made, but they did not give perfect satl"isfaction for a number of reasons, among which may be mentioned the factthat sticking frequently occurred so that themachine was not certain inits action, and also the absolute accuracy required of these machineswas not always attained. For example, when electrical contact Was madeby the passing coins, it was found that these machinesfrequently skippeda count, and consequently, could not be relied upon. r Objects of thisinvention are to provide acoin counting machine which is absolutelyaccurate in its operation, which may be associated with a coin separatorto receive the coins directly therefrom, which does not employ anyelectrical contacts whatsoevenbut instead, utilizes mechanicaloperations for positively actuating the counters.

Further objects are to provide a novel form of coin counting machine inwhich energy is mechanically imparted to the coin so that it can exertsuiiicient force to insure the; operation of the coin counter, and inwhich all possibility of sticking or improper actuation of the counteris avoided.

Further objects are to provide a simple type of coin countingvmachinewhich may be operated Without any thought on the part of the operator,and which is free from fragilek or'delicate parts.

An embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of the counting machine.

Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus with parts broken away to moreclearly show the construction.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line-33 of Figures land 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail of onevof the counter arms and theadjacent portion of the actuator.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen thatl the coin countingmachine associated directly `with a coin sorting machine, such as o 5that discloseain my patent No. 1,526,762 for cal chutes 4 and aredischarged into the appropriate hoppers or receiving compartments 5.Preferably, a spring finger 6 is positioned in each of the coin chutes 3to prevent the coins from jumping upwardly as they pass the mechanismfor forcing them past the counters, such mechanism to be hereinafterdescribed in greater detail.

Further, it is preferable to provide spring fingers 7 projectingslightly across the lower if ends of the delivery chutes 4 so as to turnthe coins and cause them to fall flatly into the ho pers. r

t is tobe noted, particularly from Figures 1 and 3, that the plate 2 isslotted toreceive the ribs 8 of an actuating or driving roller 9. Thisroller is mounted upon a transverse shaft 10 as shown in Figures 1 and2, kand is preferably provided with a pulley 11 belted to an electricmotor or other suitable driving means such as indicated at 12. The ribs8 are preferably formed of rubber or other yielding material and projectslightly through the plate 2 beneath each of the channels 3. These ribsare adapted to engage the coins as they pass through the chutes 3, oneof the coins being indicated in Figure 4 by the reference character 13.Immediately above the plate 2 and adjacent the apertures therethroughare pivoted a plurality of levers or actuators which are provided with acoin contacting arm 1li-See Figure 1 and with an upper arm 15. The upperarm, preferably, carries a spring 16 at its outer end adapted to contactwith the roller 17 of the counter arm 18. This counter arm in eachinstance is clamped upony the counter shaft 19. Conventional types ofcounters, such as indicated at 20,.may be employed, and as previouslydescribed, their operating arms are actuated by the lever 15 through themedium of the spring 16, such spring affording the requisite yield toprevent binding or other damage to the counter arm. These levers oractuators are each mounted upon a transverse shaft 21, and one of eachof the levers or actuators is associated with each ot the channels 3. Atransverse rod Q2 is positioned beneath the arms 15 ot these actuatorsand a-tlords a rest therefor.

Each ot the counters 20 is provided with a clearing lever or arm Q8.Each of thes arms carries a pin Q4. Means are provided forsimultaneously clearing the counters, and such means may comprise atransverse slide Q5 provided with a plurality of notches 26 adapted forthe reception of the pins Qaias shown most clearlU in Fil/gares 2 and 3.This slide 25 is guided in the side trames 27 ot the coin countingmachine. It is preferably provic ed with rack teeth 28 which lengage thesegmental gear 29. rllhis segmental gear is provided with an upwardlyprojecting lever 30 equipped with a handle 31. Thus, when the handle 31is manipulated, the counters are simultaneously cleared, and the machineis in condition tor a further cycle of operations.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming that the coin sorting machine is in active operation, it willbe seen that the coins are ted downwardly to their appropriate passagesor channels 3. They pass downwardly along these channels to a positionbeneath their appropriate levers 14 as shown in Figure 1, At this point,the coin has additional energy supplied thereto by means of the rolleror drum 9 whose projecting ribs 8 trictionally engage the lower ledge ofthe coins and move them beneath the levers 11i, thus raising suchlevers. The arm or lever 15 is accordingly raised as it is integral withthe lever 14, and through the medium ot the spring 16, positivelyactuates the counter arm 18.

It is to be noted particularly that the momentum ot the downwardlypassing coin is not relied upon to operate the actuator, andconsequently, the counters, but additional energy is imparted to thecoins by means of the transverse roller so that the coins are positivelypassed beneath the levers 14 in a mechanical and certain manner.

Certain of the chutes or passageways 3 may be provided with springs suchas indicated at 8 in Figure 2 to insure the vertical positioning ot thecoin. F or example, in the dime chute or channel, a spring has beenshown as positioned upon the side of the channel and projecting slightlythere into. This spring keeps the coin from tilting, although the coinmay be extremely thin.

It is to be noted also that the guards 6 prevent the coins trom jumpingupwardly as they pass the roller, and consequently, guide' the coinsinto the chutes 4;.

It will thus be seen that a positive and reliable count of the coins isassured by this machine.

As a. matter of actual fact, these machines have been tried and havebeen found to give absolute accuracy in the counting ot the coins.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as theinvention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such inventionis to be determined as claimed.

I claim: Y

l. In a coin counting machine, the combination with a member having achute through which coins may be passed, a. bell crank 1ever pivotedabove said chute and having a tirst arm extending into, and partiallyobstructing, the chute, means to carry said coin past said tirst arm, asecond arm having a spring on the end thereof, and a counter adapted tobe operated from said spring.

2. In a coin counting machine, the combination ot' a member having achute through which coins may be passed, a bell crank lever tulcrumed tobe rocked in the plane ot said chute, said lever comprising a first anda vsecond arm, said first arm being maintained partially in the chute bygravity, a spring tired to the end of said second arm, a counter adaptedto be actuated from said spring, and means to carry said coin past saidtirst arm.

3. In a coin counting machine, the combination of a member having achute through which coins may be passed, an actuator comprising a leverhaving forked arms and pivotally suspended Vabove said chute to swingtherewithin, means above said chute restraining the swinging movement ofsaid actuator to dispose only one of said arms Within the chute, aspring member on the other said arm and a counter operated by saidspring.

Ll. In a coin counting machine, the combination of a member having chutethrough which coins may be passed in upright vertical position, anactuator comprising a bellcrank lever' pivoted above said chute toproject one of its arms into the chute by gravity and form an inclinedtop partially closing the same and extending into the path or coinsbeing passed through the chute, a counter adapted to be operated by theother arm of the bell-crank, and power means forming the bottom of thechute beneath the bell-crank lever for forcing the coins past thebellcrank lever to litt the same and actuate the counter.

5. In a coin counting machine, the combination of a member having achute through which coins may be passed in upright vertical position, anactuator comprising a bellcrank lever pivoted above said chute toproject one of its arms into the chute' by gravity ico and form aninclined top partially closing the same and extending into the path ofcoins being passed through the chute, a counter adapted to be operatedby the other arm of the bell-crank, and resilient means interposedbetween said other arm of the bellcrank and the counter.

6. In a coin counting machine, the combination of a member having achute through which coins may he passed in upright vertical position, anactuator comprising a bell-crank lever and pivoted above said chute toproject one of its arms into the chute by gravity and form an inclinedtop partially closing the same and extending into the path of coinsbeing passed through the chute, a counter adapted to be operated by theother arm of the bell-crank, a lexible spring element carried by saidother arm of the bell-crank and engageable with a counter carried part,and power means forming the bottom of the chute beneath the bell-cranklever for forcing the coins past the bell-crank lever to lift the sameand actuate the counter, said spring element providing a yieldingconnection between the bell-crank lever and the counter carried part.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atElkhart Lake, in the county of Sheboygan, and State of Wisconsin. c CARLSCHWARTZ.

